Want a sneak peak at Tacoma’s new ballpark?

The aerial view of what a renovated Cheney Stadium will look like in Tacoma by the start of the 2011 Rainiers’ season. (Graphic provided by Tacoma Rainiers)

The Tacoma Rainiers are getting a renovated Cheney Stadium to play in by the start of the 2011 season and fans of the Mariners’ AAA ballclub got their first look at the new design on Tuesday.

The design team showed artist renderings to the Tacoma City Council of what to expect when the $30 million facelift is completed in a year.

The multi-level structure will be built on top of the existing 8,500-capacity bowl, which will be resealed and reinforced with new seats installed.

A $28 million bond issue for the project was approved on Nov. 24 by the Council, which now is set to make a final decision on the design by March 9.

The renovation is scheduled to break ground immediately following the 2010 baseball season and will include a redesigned, covered concourse, a right-field grass berm with an attached children’s play area, new bleachers beyond the left-field wall, 300 club seats behind home plate, a 5,000 square foot club/restaurant and 16 luxury suites.

As outlined by the News Tribune, about half of the bond debt will be repaid over the next 25 years by new revenues generated by the stadium, including rent payments and additional money collected from new admissions, concessions, parking and facilities taxes and fees.

The nonprofit Cheney Foundation is donating $5 million and the City of Tacoma is paying $2 million from a county-city building fund, plus another $9 million over time from the city’s general fund.

In exchange for the stadium renovation, the Rainiers signed a lease binding them to play at the upgraded facility through 2041.

The stadium originally opened in 1960 and has been the home to Pacific Coast League baseball ever since, with the Mariners making Tacoma their Class AAA farm club since 1995.

“After seeing the plans and renderings of the renovated Cheney Stadium, the Mariners are excited for fans of the Rainiers, who will enjoy the new facilities,” said Mariners CEO Chuck Armstrong. “It is great that the park will remain on its long-time site as the home of Triple-A baseball in Tacoma.”

The interior view of the renovated Cheney Stadium. (Graphic courtesy of Tacoma Rainers)